Sen. Cory Booker questions Patel over dismissed classified documents case against Trump
Sen. Cory Booker got into a heated exchange with Trump FBI director nominee Kash Patel Thursday over whether Patel has testified to witnessing President Donald Trump declassifying documents after his first presidency.
The now-dropped case focused on allegations that Trump unlawfully retained sensitive government materials at his Mar-a-Lago estate and obstructed efforts to retrieve them after leaving office following his first term.
"So you're not willing to tell Congress after making many pledges today about transparency, whether or not you testified to witnessing the President of the United States declassify documents? In the name of all the values you have said today, did you or did you not testify to witnessing the President of the United States declassify documents?" Booker asked.
"I testified accordingly, and under oath, and I encourage you to get that transferred by the law of our land," Patel responded.
"And by the law of the land, you are free to tell people, what are you hiding from Congress?" Booker asked. "Answer the question. Did you testify to witnessing the President of the United States declassifying documents, yes or no?"
"Senator, the grand jury testimony is available to you. I encourage you to make it public," Patel said.
The classified records case was dismissed in July 2024 by U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida Judge Aileen Cannon, who ruled that Special Counsel Jack Smith was unlawfully appointed as special counsel.
Fox News Digital's Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
Posted by Jamie Joseph
